Stable dispersions containing trialkyltin fluorides

Abstract

The tendency of dispersions containing trialkyltin fluorides in organic liquids to agglomerate is avoided by using as the dispersion medium specified organic liquids in combination with from 0.5 to 10%, based on the weight of the dispersion, of specified inorganic compounds. The choice of both organic liquid and inorganic compounds is critical to achieving long-term stability of the resultant dispersion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stable thixotropic dispersion, said dispersion consisting essentially of: (a) from 40 to 70% by weight of a trialkyltin fluoride of the formula R 3  SnF wherein R is alkyl containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms;   (b) from 20 to 60% by weight of at least one organic liquid having a kauri butanol value of 96 or less and selected from the group consisting of alcohols containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, aliphatic hydrocarbons containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms and aromatic hydrocarbons;   (c) from 0.5 to 10% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) the lithium and sodium salts of p-toluenesulfonic acid and phenylphosphonic acid,   (2) nitric acid salts of calcium, magnesium, sodium, lithium, iron and zinc,   (3) salts of p-toluenesulfonic or phenylphosphonic acid and an element selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium,   (4) the chlorides of metallic elements selected from the group consisting of divalent tin, divalent copper, silver, gold and the elements in groups II-A, II-B, IV-B, V-A, VI-B, VII-B and VIII of the periodic table and   (5) carboxylic acid salts of lead, manganese(ous), zirconium, barium and strontium, wherein said carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, propionic, butyric, hexoic, heptanoic, cyclohexanecarboxylic and benzoic acids.     
     
     
       2. A stable dispersion according to claim 1 wherein R contains from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. A stable composition according to claim 2 wherein R is butyl. 
     
     
       4. A stable dispersion according to claim 1 wherein said liquid organic medium is a mixture containing two aliphatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       5. A stable dispersion according to claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is xylene. 
     
     
       6. A coating composition for inhibiting the attachment and growth of fouling organisms, said composition consisting essentially of from 1.0 to 20.0% by weight of the trialkyltin fluoride containing dispersion as described in claim 1, from 10 to 50% by weight of at least one pigment, from 10 to 50% by weight of at least one film-forming material selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers, rosin and chlorinated synthetic rubbers, from 20 to 60% by weight of at least one organic solvent and from 0 to 5% by weight of a bentonite clay. 
     
     
       7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the trialkyltin fluoride is tri-n-butyltin flouride. 
     
     
       8. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the pigment is a mixture of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and magnesium silicate.